Chapter 21: Divorce

Chapter 21: Divorce

What is this feeling? I don’t want to go home yet.

Went out to clear my head with nature, but why am I sitting here dejected at a shabu restaurant? I want to spite life by going out for a drink, but I don’t have the courage. So, I’m sitting here slurping soup instead.

The Sergeant picked up a piece of pork and ate it, ignoring everyone around him. It’s not like it’s weird. He doesn’t have any friends, and he doesn’t have a boyfriend either. So what if he wants to eat?

“Damn it… does this mean I’ve fallen for the Inspector?” Of course…

That flirtatious, dazzling man has made him fall into his trap. The image of Inspector Thian and his ex-girlfriend kept playing like a scene in his head. One is handsome like a god, and the other is beautiful like a goddess.

“They’re so perfect for each other.”

He raised his glass of soda as if wanting to celebrate the two of them. Mangkon gulped it all down. He could drink as much as he wanted because he wouldn’t get drunk anyway.

The person trying to find something to distract himself from his wandering thoughts could only pick up the beautiful pork and drop it into the boiling pot. It was boiling as much as his emotions. However, the vibrating notification from his phone suddenly interrupted, attracting his attention for a moment.

“Hmph, don’t even ask. I won’t answer.”

A faint smile twitched at the corner of his lips. The screen displayed a message from someone that read:

“Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?” “Mangkon, where did you go?”

Want to know? Not a chance I’ll tell you. The small man sighed and placed his phone face down on the table. He didn’t need to report anything.

“He’s not my husband.” “Yeah, a fake husband.”

He drank the soda again. He’ll probably get thrown away now that the real wife is back. Mangkon lifted the can. But then, five minutes later, a call came in from the Inspector, as good as ever. The white hand picked up the square block and had to reluctantly answer the call.

“Hello?”

(Where are you? It’s 9 PM already. Why aren’t you home yet?) The tone from the other end of the line seemed unusually anxious.

“I’ll be back soon.”

(Send me your location. I’ll come pick you up.)

“It’s alright. I’ll go back myself.” I can go back myself. No need to pick me up. (I’m going to pick you up.)

“No, I’ll go back myself.”

And the phone owner immediately hung up. All he wanted to do right now was scream as loudly as he could. Why is he acting like he’s so concerned? Because it’s his duty?

The duty of a husband in name?

“I can come back whenever I want. So what.”

The tone was as sarcastic as possible. Mangkon knew he was acting like a child, but so what? Do people have to act according to their age all the time?

As if that wasn’t enough, the ringtone went off again and again. He kept muting it. He knew this wasn’t a pleasant behavior, but he just let it go, with a “screw it” attitude.

Mangkon returned to Piromsomorn house at almost midnight. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw someone standing by the main door, waiting for him. Thian was in a volatile mood.

He had been standing here since 9 PM, waiting and waiting. No matter how many times he called, Mangkon wouldn’t answer. He kept thinking about what he would do if something bad happened again!

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?” “I didn’t hear them.”

“You didn’t hear or you did it on purpose? Do you know how worried I was about where you went?” The deep, low voice that came out was trying its best to control itself.

“I said I would come back myself. Why does the inspector need to worry?” “You just disappeared! What do you want me to think?!”

“You never think before you do anything, Mangkon!” “You’re so big, why are you acting like a child?”

But in the end, the glass that was cracked broke because of the overwhelming concern filling his chest. The deep, low voice snapped out without thinking. The small man flinched slightly. His round, gentle face looked up at the young Inspector. That handsome face looked very angry, and his black eyes were even harsher than usual.

Why did he have to yell? Was what he did really that wrong? “I’m sorry.”

Mangkon felt tears welling up, but he didn’t show it. All the images and conversations he heard today were bottled up inside, but all he could do was respond with polite and even words.

He wanted to be selfish. He wanted to try speaking loudly, almost sarcastically, at the Inspector just once.

But was he even allowed to? He couldn’t help but feel resentful.

And why did he have to yell?

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I feel sleepy.”

To avoid conversation and emotional confrontation, the “wife” walked inside. However, after taking only a few steps, a sentence that was uttered behind him made his legs stop.

“Actually, this marriage to fix the fate seems to be hurting you more than me.” “I don’t think we need to wait six months.”

“Should we get a divorce, Mangkon? Divorce me.”

Mangkon froze as soon as he heard those words, as if something had hit his heart and shook it. Wide round eyes slowly turned back to look at the Inspector, still standing there.

“Is the Inspector serious?” “Yes. When are you free?”

“How about tomorrow morning? Then I can move back to Mae Sai right away.”

The small man looked thoughtful before turning back and pursing his lips tightly. The discomfort that had been building up began to swell inside. Beautiful round eyes were lined with tears. It was about to spill. His heart felt painful and raw.

His duty was over.

“I’ll go pack my things first. I’ll get a divorce for the Inspector tomorrow.”

A lightning bolt struck Thian right in the heart. Just now, Mangkon had no smile like usual. There was only a coldness reflecting back at him.

“What the hell have I done?”

Thian remained rooted to the spot. Silence enveloped the large hall, pierced only by the sound of the younger man’s footsteps walking away until it faded. Sharp eyes followed the retreating small back with a confused feeling. An heaviness in his chest that he had never felt before was clearly building.

It wasn’t just a fleeting emotion.

He had been thinking about it ever since the Saming affair ended. He didn’t want to see the other man hurt again and again. Divorce and sending Mangkon back to Mae Sai Police Station was the best thing. Because if the other person stayed, he would have to constantly worry about him.

It was the best way.

Even though he kept telling himself that in his mind, inside it was an indescribable pain, as if something important was about to slip away and was really destined to be lost.

Thian moved to sleep in the living room, giving the reasoning that he didn’t want to disturb the younger man’s packing. But in reality, those pair sharp eyes just couldn’t bear to see Mangkon leave him.

He also woke up earlier than usual today. When he had finished all his personal affairs, he came down to wait for the other person downstairs.

Today, the day they both had to get a divorce.

The atmosphere in the car was filled with silence. The last-day “wife” was sitting next to the driver’s seat as usual, but the destination had changed from the police station to the district office to get a divorce.

Light brown round eyes gazed out the window absently. He looked so still, it was difficult to fathom what he was thinking. But little did he know that inside, his heart was full of turmoil and a variety of confused emotions. He knew that as soon as the divorce papers were signed, everything would end, and the person would travel back to Chiang Rai immediately.

Thian, too, was no different, only glancing at the younger man occasionally. In his heart, he wanted to reach the destination as slowly as possible, or not at all. If only Mangkon said just one word to turn the car around to go home, he would do it immediately.

The district office on a Friday morning was full of people. Mangkon, in a white shirt and black slacks, walked in quietly. The face that was usually adorned with a smile was now completely still.

Thian followed closely behind. The young inspector in casual clothes didn’t look very appropriate for the place, but at this moment, his black eyes were full of confused feelings.

The divorce desk was ahead. A civil servant in uniform smiled a welcoming smile and asked if they had brought all the documents.

“Here.” The documents that were put in a well-prepared file were handed over. “Are you sure you guys want to get a divorce?”

The official’s voice asked again, as if wanting to reinforce the assurance in what was about to happen.

“Yes.”

It was Mangkon who answered. Thian averted his gaze from the official’s face to stop at the younger man’s side profile, staring silently like that, but inside he was in complete disarray.

A hundred reasons that he had once thought of bringing up to end this, but now they had become just pieces of weightless thoughts. Suddenly, a ridiculous idea crept into his head: if he went and threw a tantrum on the floor like a child, would Mangkon still want a divorce?

But that was just a thought, because in the end, all he could do was grit his teeth and accept the reality that was happening.

“You’re the one who asked for a divorce, aren’t you, Inspector…” “Then please fill out the forms for me.”

The documents were placed on the table in front of them along with a pen. The officer handed a set of documents to both of them. The inspector reluctantly picked it up, while Mangkon started filling in the information quickly.

Thian looked at the paper in front of him before slowly touching the pen to it. What kind of crazy handwriting is this? Why do I have to write it so beautifully? he chuckled softly to himself in his mind, but his hand still continued writing slowly, carefully.

The owner of the light-colored eyes, seated next to him, noticed the slow movements of the person who was about to become his ex-husband, but chose not to say anything, because even he didn’t want to drag the feeling out any longer.

Before long, the documents were completely filled out. The last step was to sign in the blank spaces. Thian looked at the pen in his hand, feeling like it was heavier than usual. He hesitated for just a moment before deciding to write his name on the paper.

The sound of the pen scratching on the paper in a final straight line sounded faint, but it echoed loudly in his heart. The officer checked everything before taking both sets of documents to process them further.

“Please wait a moment, I will issue your divorce certificate.”

Simple words, but powerfully impactful. That piece of paper would confirm that everything was truly over.

When the divorce certificate was handed over, the ceremony was complete. “It’s all done. I wish you both good luck.”

A blessing from the official, but it didn’t make anyone feel good. Thian looked at the thin piece of paper that felt heavy as if it weighed a ton, before slowly following behind the younger man.

Divorced…

No more ties…

Utter freedom…

But he didn’t feel happy at all. Before he felt like millions of needles were stabbing him again. When Mangkon stopped walking and turned back, saying:

“I hope the Inspector won’t get hurt from now on and forever.” “Oh, I almost forgot. The ring, Inspector. Thank you.”

Mangkon’s words sounded polite and even, but they made Thian’s heart feel like it was being squeezed until it choked. Black eyes stared at the gentle, round face. A velvet box with a ring inside was handed back.

He didn’t want it.

He didn’t want to take it back. Not even a little.